The art and magic of traditions reflect the new life that is breathed into them each time we recreate or honor them.
The art and magic of traditions are really their evolution. Traditions are constantly changing celebrations of joy and life. Let go of the stress that could creep into our expectations of living up to or clinging to the past. Live with the spontaneity and joy of the present. Changes to past traditions don't make memories of "the way things were" less valuable or meaningful, rather carrying on a tradition, even in a new way, speaks to the extraordinary value of moments that filled our hearts.
Especially at this time of the year, there are so many wonderful traditions that come alive and connect us to family, culture and maybe religion. Many of the traditions of my southern Italian youth, the presepe (nativity), petrali (fig stuffed Christmas cookies dipped in either dark chocolate or white fondant) and pignolata or strufoli, (common treats served during Carnevale) continue on as traditions with family in Philadelphia.
The magic is that each of these traditions has been slightly reinvented and some unexpected twists have been added.
For example, petrali are made in quantity at my home by my American wife. Who would have imagined that she would be a keeper of this southern Italian tradition and recipe? But perhaps that makes the cookies even more special.
For me, the presepe or nativity, a Christmas tradition in my home growing up, evolved since my children first visited Naples when they were small. There, they were enamored with the beauty of the Neapolitan creche scenes, which are extraordinary, intricate and recreate not only the nativity but often an entire town.
We initially brought home only the figures of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. On each subsequent visit to Gambardella, the artisanal maker in Naples, we added, more figures. The tradition further expanded because we gather moss each year from northeastern PA, the childhood home of my wife, which bring our presepe to life. Each year it is slightly different.
Finally, the pignolata of my youth were somehow reinvented as edible Christmas tree treats for each of my children when they were small. Each child would decorate the chocolate mound of cookies with sprinkles and other colorful edibles adornments. This is not the tradition of southern Italy that I remember but a beautiful adaptation. Today, though our children are grown they still request and look forward to their Christmas tree made of "pignolata".
I could not have predicted any of these evolutions to the traditions of my childhood. But the art and magic of tradition allows for and encourages new palettes and surprises. Whatever, your traditions and celebrations, I encourage you to embrace them in this moment and in the time and place where you are now. From my heart, I wish you and your loved ones joy and the very best in the year to come.
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Domenico Praticò, MD, holds the position of the Scott Richards North Star Charitable Foundation Chair for Alzheimer’s Research and serves as a Professor and the Founding Director of the Alzheimer’s Center at Temple, as well as a Professor of Neural Sciences at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.
For more information on the research conducted by Dr. Domenico Pratico, please visit this link.
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